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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2010 21:42:01 GMT 12
When I used to pass through Christchurch or Wellington Airports during my Air Force days I always liked looking at the Ansett New Zealand BAe 146 Whisper Jets there. I reckon they were really nice looking machines. I know very little about them though.
How many did the airline own or use in NZ all up? What years did they begin operation here (I recall a TV special marking the arrival of the demonstrator from BAe showing it off and especially flying into the tight Queenstown airport).
Do any still operate in or into NZ at all? I remember they were promoted on the fact they were so much quieter than the Boeings back then but would they still be quieter than modern day airliners with their hush technology?
Does anyone have photos of them in NZ? What were they like to fly in? I always wanted to have a ride in one but the RNZAF only dealt with Air New Zealand for travel.
And I fondly recall their adverts - especially the one with Fluffy, the cat; and the one where the guy took his keys onto the plane and the pilot threw them out the window.
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Post by Darren Masters on Apr 11, 2010 21:44:53 GMT 12
Dave there is sometimes a BAE146 parked in the Air National hangar here in AKL. They use her for charter work. Plain white.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Apr 12, 2010 10:53:49 GMT 12
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Post by kiwitone on Apr 12, 2010 11:59:14 GMT 12
Dave, in 2001 i travelled by Bae 146 shuttle from Aberdeen into london city airport for work; it was nearly always part full and the last time just our squad of three.
Wide leather seats, powerful and with a wing that keeps developing flaps and struts from every orifice; stops quick too. Handy for London city as it is a small rectangle seemingly postage stamp size and you get the bonus of passing close to Londons monuments
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Post by Kereru on Apr 12, 2010 12:11:17 GMT 12
This one still operates charters Dave if your keen for a ride?  Cheers |
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Post by Naki on Apr 12, 2010 12:36:18 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 12, 2010 12:53:25 GMT 12
Thanks chaps. I never knew that Qantas and Air New Zealand had operated them.
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Post by Naki on Apr 12, 2010 12:58:06 GMT 12
Note though that the earlier Qantas in NZ isnt the same Qantas as the one that plys our airways nowadays. It was owned by a group of NZ (and perhaps overseas?) investors and operated in Qantas colours as a franchsie - the current Jet Connect Qantas is owned by its parent - Qantas Australia
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Post by shamus on Apr 12, 2010 14:56:57 GMT 12
I have also travelled on them both in NZ and overseas. They do not have reverse thrust i believe but can still handle small fields. I went to Berlin out of London City airport and I did not see any other type of airliner at that airport.(The smallest in London) Exclusively BAe 146.
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Post by nzav8a on Apr 12, 2010 15:05:02 GMT 12
BAe146-200 ZK-NZA Christchurch  BAe146-200QC ZK-NZC Christchurch  BAe146-300 ZK-NZK Christchurch  BAe146-300 ZK-NZJ Christchurch  BAe146-300 ZK-NZL Christchurch  Bae146-300 ZK-NZK Christchruch  |
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Post by Peter Lewis on Apr 12, 2010 16:02:05 GMT 12
Total of 14 different BAe.146 have been on the register here over the years.
As Colin says, ZK-ECO/3 of Air National Corporate is the only one still here.
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Post by Darren Masters on Apr 12, 2010 19:27:39 GMT 12
ZK-ECO was the one I was referring to. Some nice pics there guys  |
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Post by b10m on Apr 13, 2010 17:49:39 GMT 12
Quadrapuffs
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Post by corsair67 on Apr 13, 2010 18:06:12 GMT 12
Great selection of photos there, NZav8a. Thanks for posting.
I flew on an Ansett one back in the mid-90s, and I too remember that it was quite comfortable and spacious inside.
I also recall that when we touched down I hadly felt a bump - but I'm not sure if that was because of the undercarriage design, or because of pilot skill.
The BAe-146 have a bad reputation with cabin crews for toxic fume exposure incidents, which is another reason that they have slowly disappeared from service.
I think the last ex-Ansett NZ ones was scrapped and/or parted out at Tullamarine a couple of years ago?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2010 18:11:44 GMT 12
I recall after the Gulf War when all the airlines were cutting back as people were not flying, there was a news item about the airliners in storage in the USA and I was amazed at how many BAe 146's were lined up. They said they'd come straight from the factory into storage due to the US buyer no longer having the passengers to ride in them. I think there must have been at least 50 of them.
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Post by Parrotfish on Apr 13, 2010 19:45:07 GMT 12
I used to love flying in them and used to fly Ansett because of them- more leg room (yes I know more to do with the profit motive of the airline than the aircraft design), a view from any where on board without the wing getting in the way. A friend of mine used to fly them and told the story that they were called 146 because when flying it you felt like you had 1 engine, but there was 4 ad you really needed 6. Cruel.
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Post by vs on Apr 13, 2010 21:05:35 GMT 12
146 has 4 hair dryers for engines. They are beinbg replaced in Europe by EMB 190's etc. 190 approved for the steep approach into London city now
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Post by mumbles on Apr 13, 2010 22:10:14 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 13, 2010 22:59:22 GMT 12
Great shots Sam. and all.
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Post by vs on Apr 13, 2010 23:08:42 GMT 12
the 146 will, never be known as a "cool" aeroplane!
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